This archive of published media articles about wildlife crime in Namibia aims to:
Public access to information is a vital component of ensuring community engagement in prevalent issues. Wildlife crime is one of the pressing environmental issues of our time.
Wildlife crime investigations are generally covert operations requiring utmost confidentiality to succeed. Investigations and prosecutions in complex cases may take months or even years to complete. For this reason, the information that can be released to the public without compromising cases is often limited. Nonetheless, the Namibian government strives to share as much information as possible with the public.
The Namibian media has welcomed this approach and regularly publishes statistics and feature articles on wildlife crime. These are entered into the database at regular intervals, creating a comprehensive archive of wildlife crime reporting in Namibia.
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Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife has achieved a historic milestone with zero rhino poaching incidents recorded in KwaZulu-Natal provincial parks in January 2026. KZN Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) MEC Musa Zondi said this demonstrated that the province is "not merely participating in conservation success, but living in it," marks a decade-best. The trend is in line with recent poaching stats. According to stats released in February by Environment Minister Willie Aucamp, there was 97 rhinos poached in KZN in 2025, a decline from 232 killed in 2024.
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| SA_2026_03_Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife achieves historic low in rhino poaching_IOL.pdf | 220.51 KB |
South Africa's Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has dismissed reports suggesting that the country intends to support reopening the international trade in ivory and rhino horn. The department reaffirmed its commitment to the global ban on ivory trade and rhino horn trade ahead of the upcoming CITES COP20 summit. In a statement, the department said: "South Africa remains fully committed to the international ban on commercial trade of ivory and rhino horn. Our policy is guided by science, ethics, and global cooperation, not by commercial interest."
For decades the area surrounding the serene and picturesque Jozini Dam and Pongola Nature Reserve has been a tourist mecca, drawing well-heeled local and international visitors keen on seeing nature at its best, including cruises to watch elephants grazing and to spot rare species. Luxury lodges and hundreds of workers depend on the viability of the local tourist attractions and a constant stream of high-spending visitors.